Para Asian Games 2026: India earn four bronze medals in table tennis in Nagoya

Ravi Baby Sahana, Prachi Pandey, Bhavina Patel and Sonalben Patel won bronze medals for India in table tennis at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. All four medals came after defeats in the women's singles semifinals.

Ravi Baby Sahana and Prachi Pandey became the first Indian para table tennis players to make the podium in the standing category at the Asian Para Games. Bhavina Patel, Sonalben Patel, Prachi and Sahana all went down to accomplished Paralympic medallists in their respective women's singles semifinals. The four bronzes came in the women's singles events.

Tamil Nadu's Ravi Baby Sahana lost 8-11, 2-11, 4-11 to China's Mao Jingdian in the Class 9 semifinal; Mao is a five-time Paralympic gold medallist. Class 9 in para table tennis is a standing sports class for athletes with mild physical impairments affecting their legs or playing arm, or severe impairments of their non-playing arm.

Prachi Pandey, who has a neuro-degenerative disease, was beaten 9-11, 2-11, 8-11 by Iraq's Najlah Al-Dayyeni in the Class 6 semifinal; Najlah is the reigning Paralympic champion. Class 6 is a standing category for athletes with severe impairments in both arms and legs.

Bhavina Patel was defeated 7-11, 5-11, 7-11 by China's Zhang Bian in the Class 4-5 semifinal, a result that earned her a bronze and was described as her second successive bronze at the Asian Para Games. Zhang Bian is an eight-time Paralympic champion. Class 4-5 classification is for athletes who have full upper body control but are on a wheelchair due to leg or lower-limb impairments.

Sonalben Patel lost 7-11, 5-11, 6-11 to South Korea's Jiyu Yoon in the Class 3 semifinal; Yoon is the defending champion and a three-time Paralympic medallist. Sonalben had previously won a doubles silver at the 2018 Jakarta Games. Class 3 is a wheelchair category for athletes with poor sitting balance and limited trunk control, but normal or near-normal arm and hand function.

The four bronze medals moved India beyond its para table tennis haul from the previous edition, when the country had won two bronze medals. All four podium finishes at Nagoya came from women's singles semifinals.